CGM for Patrick
Donation protected
So Patrick is my 13 year old son. He is the strongest kiddo I know, he was diagnosed type one diabetic in 2011. He has taken the change to his life in stride. He truly is a hero!
Everyday Patrick has to prick his finger 8-10 times he uses a lansing device, which pokes his finger and makes blood come out. Then he gets his blood sugar number, he has to figure out how many carbs are in what he is eating (usually still needs help with this one...) and then figure out how much insluin he has to take. He then has to give himself a shot every time he eats, and before bed he tests again to make sure that his numbers are in the ok range to go to bed, and one last shot.
For those of you who don't know it is a real possiblity every day that Patrick could get sick, his blood sugar could drop and he could end up in the hosiptal, or even die.
Our family has to be hyper aware of the Patrick, his behavior, and what he eats or drinks, if we are not careful Patrick could end up in some very dangerous situations.
Patrick didn't do anything to cause this, he didn't eat to much, or watch to much tv, he didn't eat to much candy or drink to much soda. His body just isn't making what he needs to process food, and live any more, so he has to give himself shots.
Patrick plays soccer and he has to come off the field and test durring games, and sometimes has to eat then go back, but still he doesn't fight or get mad it's just how it is! It is just what he has to do to do something he loves.
Patrick has asked for a cgm, or Continuous glucose monitor this device will test his blood sugar and help us monitor it, especially when he is being active, we will be able to monitor his numbers from the sideline, or even when he is sleeping. The device will help us keep Patrick's numbers a little lower. Hopefully help lower his HBA1C and the issues that come with being diabetic.
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems use a tiny sensor inserted under the skin to check glucose levels in tissue fluid. The sensor stays in place for several days to a week and then must be replaced. A transmitter sends information about glucose levels via radio waves from the sensor to a pagerlike wireless monitor. The user must check blood samples with a glucose meter to program the devices.
While he is playing soccer he has to be around 250 which is really high, it is very hard to play at such a level it can make him sleepy, and sometimes a bit argumentative. This is because we cannot monitor him from the sidelines,and don't want to take the chance of him passing out, going in to a coma, or dying. These all real possiblities.
A CGM would be a game changer for Patrick, even at school, he would be able to tell right away if he is high, or low, with out havng to go to the nurses office to test. It would give him a level of freedom that all children should have, but a T1D chil doesn't always get.
The problem comes with the cost of course, even with double coverage our out of pocket is $1647 dollars for the cgm, the sensors, and the training through children's.
This is how the pricing breaks down... for those of you who are wondering.
DEXCOM G4 $599.00
Sensor starter pack (3-4packs)$1048.00
DEXCOM G4 Case-$34.95
The insurance companies don't consider this as a requirement, it is a privliage, and thus it is covered as a durable medical device, not a perscription. This covers the monitor and one month of sensors. We can afford the monthly sensors but the set up fee is a bit out of our reach right now.
Anything you can contribute will go to his device and sensor costs! If you don't know being type one is very expensive, but what wouldn't we do to keep our boy healthy!?
Anything over the goal amount will be used to purchase additional sensors. :)
Everyday Patrick has to prick his finger 8-10 times he uses a lansing device, which pokes his finger and makes blood come out. Then he gets his blood sugar number, he has to figure out how many carbs are in what he is eating (usually still needs help with this one...) and then figure out how much insluin he has to take. He then has to give himself a shot every time he eats, and before bed he tests again to make sure that his numbers are in the ok range to go to bed, and one last shot.
For those of you who don't know it is a real possiblity every day that Patrick could get sick, his blood sugar could drop and he could end up in the hosiptal, or even die.
Our family has to be hyper aware of the Patrick, his behavior, and what he eats or drinks, if we are not careful Patrick could end up in some very dangerous situations.
Patrick didn't do anything to cause this, he didn't eat to much, or watch to much tv, he didn't eat to much candy or drink to much soda. His body just isn't making what he needs to process food, and live any more, so he has to give himself shots.
Patrick plays soccer and he has to come off the field and test durring games, and sometimes has to eat then go back, but still he doesn't fight or get mad it's just how it is! It is just what he has to do to do something he loves.
Patrick has asked for a cgm, or Continuous glucose monitor this device will test his blood sugar and help us monitor it, especially when he is being active, we will be able to monitor his numbers from the sideline, or even when he is sleeping. The device will help us keep Patrick's numbers a little lower. Hopefully help lower his HBA1C and the issues that come with being diabetic.
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems use a tiny sensor inserted under the skin to check glucose levels in tissue fluid. The sensor stays in place for several days to a week and then must be replaced. A transmitter sends information about glucose levels via radio waves from the sensor to a pagerlike wireless monitor. The user must check blood samples with a glucose meter to program the devices.
While he is playing soccer he has to be around 250 which is really high, it is very hard to play at such a level it can make him sleepy, and sometimes a bit argumentative. This is because we cannot monitor him from the sidelines,and don't want to take the chance of him passing out, going in to a coma, or dying. These all real possiblities.
A CGM would be a game changer for Patrick, even at school, he would be able to tell right away if he is high, or low, with out havng to go to the nurses office to test. It would give him a level of freedom that all children should have, but a T1D chil doesn't always get.
The problem comes with the cost of course, even with double coverage our out of pocket is $1647 dollars for the cgm, the sensors, and the training through children's.
This is how the pricing breaks down... for those of you who are wondering.
DEXCOM G4 $599.00
Sensor starter pack (3-4packs)$1048.00
DEXCOM G4 Case-$34.95
The insurance companies don't consider this as a requirement, it is a privliage, and thus it is covered as a durable medical device, not a perscription. This covers the monitor and one month of sensors. We can afford the monthly sensors but the set up fee is a bit out of our reach right now.
Anything you can contribute will go to his device and sensor costs! If you don't know being type one is very expensive, but what wouldn't we do to keep our boy healthy!?
Anything over the goal amount will be used to purchase additional sensors. :)
Organizer
Becky DoRan-Radvilas
Organizer
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